Sundargarh district General information
Sundargarh district was constituted on the 1st January, 1948 out of the two ex-States of Gangpur and Bonai, which merged with Orissa on that day. True to its name, this "beautiful"district of Sundargarh with about 43% of its total area under forest cover and numerous colourful tribes dotting its landscape and with abundant mining potential is bounded by Ranchi District of Jharkhand on the North, Raigarh district of Chhatisgarh on the west and North-West, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Angul District of Orissa on the South and South-East and Singhbhum District of Jharkhand and Keonjhar District of Orissa on the east.
History
Two princely State of Gangapur and Bonai constitute the present district of Sundargarh, consequent upon merger of the princely States in 1948. It is understood that the district comprised in ancient time, the territory of South Kosala. However, divergent views are available regarding the origin of the ruling family. But these ex-states were once under the suzerainty of Sambalpur which formed part of the dominion of the Marhata Rajas of Nagpur. They were ceded to the British Government in 1803 by the Marhata Chief RAghuji Bhonsla of Nagpur under the treaty of Deogaon. But they were restored to him by special engagement in 1806. They were finally ceded in 1826. In 1905, they were transferred from the control of the commissioner of Chhotanagur to that of Orissa and a separate Political Agent was appointed.
Geography
Geographically, the district is not a compact unit and consists of widely, disimilar tracts of expansive and fairly open country, dotted with isalated peaks, inaccessable forests, river valley and mountainous terrain. Broadly speaking it is an undulating table-land of different elevations broken up by rugged hill ranges and cut off by torrential hill streams and the river lb and Brahmani. The general slope of the district is from north to south. There is a open well-cultivated plain country along the valley of the lb river particularly in the south. The rest of the Sadar sub-division consists of undulating table-land about 700 ft. in average height, dotted here and there with hills and peaks rising to about 2000ft., in the western most tracts at hemgir P.S. in the north there is a gradual rise to the table-land of Chhotanagpur. The portion occupied by Bonai sub-division to the south-east has rugged forest and hills intersected by gorges and passes and having a narrow valley of the Brahmani river and its tributaries. For a short spell of time during the rainy season the rapid current of the hill-streams cut off communication. The east and west of the brahmani valley is filled with high range of mountains, ft.) Chheliatoka (3331 ft.) and Bichakani (2964 ft.) in the east. The last hill has acquired importance as it contains million of tonnes of iron-ore for use in Rourkela steel plant. The territory of Sundargah and Panposh sub-divisions comprising the ex-states of Ganagpur is about 700 ft. above the sea level. Bonai sub-division comprising ex-State of Bonai is about 800 ft. above the sea level. The forest of the district is of northern tropical dry deciduous type, mainly containing Sal, Assan and Kurum. The eastern half of Bonai and Rajagangapur contain better quality of vegetation. The forest area is mostly studded with rich mineral deposits, like iron ore, manganese, limestone, lead; also forest products like bamboo, timber and kendu leaf which are export-oriented. The district was a very inaccessible tract having no proper communication. The tribal people living in the area used to subsist for the most part of shifting cultivation which resulted in denudation of forest The forest occupy an area of 3534.92 sq.kms which includes 2664.64 sq. kms. under reserved forest and 612.07 sq.kms. under protected forest. The forests are of northern tropical dry deciduous type. Sal is the dominant species. The eastern half of Bonai contain better quality of vegetation. The principal forest produce are timber, kendu-leaf and bamboo besides minor product like sabai grass. lac, tassar, myrabolan, mahua, kusuma seed, resin, tamarind, gum and sal seed. The export of forest produce are mainly done through road and railway. The forest produce alone provided a revenue of Rs 161.55 lakh to the State Government during the year 1980-81. Consequent upon the State Government policy to increase the revenue from the kendu-leaf through Government trade, Orissa Forest Corporation, a State Government undertaking operates a trade in kendu-leaf and revenue of Rs 110.42 lakh was received during the year 1980-81. Simultaneously emphasis has been laid down on afforestation through different programmes like D.R.D.A. and N.R.E.P sponsored by the government in the recent past.
Location and Area
The district lies in the north western portion of the State.It is bounded on the north by Jharkhand State, on the south by Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Deogarh districts, on east and north-east by Keonjhar and Paschimi Singhbhum districts of Orissa and Jharkhand, on the west and north-west Raigarh district of Chhatisgarh. The district lies between 21 degrees 35' N and 22 degrees 32' N latitudes and between 83 degrees 32' E and 85 degrees 22' E longitudes. Area of the district is 9712 sq. kms. The district headquarters is located at Sundargarh.
Fair and Festivals
Important fairs and festivals observed in different parts of the district are Shivaratri, Kartikapuja, Dasahara, Bhai Jiuntia, Ganesh Puja, Saraswati Puja, Makar Mela, Basanti puja, Raja , Chandan Jatra, Dola Jatra, Durga puja, Kali puja, Pana Sankranti Jatra, Snana Purnima,Ratha Jatra,Jhulen Purnima, Ramanabami Jatra, Laxmi Puja, Mahavisuba Sankranti, Rahas Purnima, Sitala puja.
Language
Main languages spoken in the district are Oriya, Bengali, Hindi, Telugu and Urdu.
Religion-wise breakup of population is indicated below as per 1991 census :
Hindus : 1256916 Muslims : 41262 Christians : 259540 Sikhs : 5605, Buddhists : 184 Jains : 701 Other religions and persuasions : 8002 Religion not stated : 1407.